Amron International Blog

5 Must-See Dive Spots in San Diego

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:59:21 +0000

If you walk down the halls of Amron, you will hear plenty of stories about someone’s recent dive trip to warm waters. This has inspired me to write down a few of my favorite dive spots, right here in San Diego, California! All can be done with a short boat ride.

1 - The Yukon - a 366 foot Canadian Destroyer Escort, lies in 105 feet of water off Mission Beach in the Northern area of Wreck Alley. She lies on her port side with average minimum depth from bow to stern about 75 feet along the starboard side. She was intentionally sunk in July of 2000 by the San Diego Oceans Foundation as part of the artificial reef project. She was prepared for divers and an abundance of entry and exit holes were cut into her to increase accessibility and diver safety. Penetration is readily available for those with the proper training, as well as plenty to see on the exterior by less experienced divers including forward and aft gun turrets. The Yukon has something to offer for almost every diver from the novice to the "Techie".

2 - The Kelp Beds - a must for divers visiting San Diego. With annual temperatures averaging 60 degrees, the kelp is very healthy and supports an enormous amount of plant and fish life. Swimming through a kelp bed feels like flying through a forest among the tall stalks reaching the surface in depths of 20 - 70 feet. The rock reefs where the kelp attaches are filled with interesting life in all their crevices - from many species of nudibranch to families of California spiny lobsters who stay just beyond arms length of the hunters.

3 - The Ruby E - a 165-foot long Coast Guard Cutter, sunk as part of the Artificial Reef Project in July 1989 in 85 feet of water. She sits upright on the bottom and is intact and penetrable. All the hatches have been made larger and most rooms have an exit to the outside. Most of the wreck is covered with growth, such as strawberry anemones and a small kelp bed on top of the wheelhouse.

4 - Eagle Rock - on the west end of Catalina, spectacular sea fans hanging around the entire rock at 40-80ft depth make this one of the best wide-angle dive sites in the area.

5 - La Jolla Cove - There is an abundance of marine life at the Cove, mostly because it is part of the La Jolla Park Ecological Reserve, so no hunting of any kind is permitted. The marine biodiversity is partially sustained by the nutrient-rich water, which is the result of upwelling from the nearby La Jolla Submarine Canyons. A number of harbor seals frequent the area and will occasionally join you on your dive. Sometimes the seals will come in close to take a peek at you, other times they just zoom by you, seemingly to prove who the better swimmer is.

So now that I have shared some of my favorite dive spots, why don’t you share a couple of yours?

Meet the Amronians: Mike M.

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:42:08 +0000

This week, I spoke to Amron's VP of Sales and Marketing, Mike Malone. Here is what he said!

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere there is a beach with warm sand and preferably a bar nearby.

What is your favorite movie?
It’s a toss-up between Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Speed, and/or Pirates of the Caribbean

What is the weirdest thing that has happened to you?
I was blessed with two daughters (who are now teenage daughters… enough said).

What ONE item would you take with you on a deserted island?
A case of Irish Whiskey.

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Aware, Energetic, Honest

Name 3 things you would never leave home without.
iPhone and wallet. Everything else is negotiable

What do you like most about working here at Amron?
I get to work with some of the most sincere and energetic people in the industry.

Meet the Amronians: Van R.

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:35:24 +0000

This week I spoke to Van Richardson, a commercial diving sales rep here at Amron. Here is what he said!

What do you like to do on your spare time?
Spending time with the Family, attending sporting events

Who is your favorite musician or band?
Jazz as a genre and Ronnie Jordan as the musician

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
The creators of the United States Constitution

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anguilla, British West Indies (Birthplace)

Name 3 things you would never leave home without.
Patience, Understanding and Courage

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Inquisitive, Outgoing and Conscientious

What do you like most about working here at Amron?
Working here at Amron afford me the opportunity to meet new people all around the country. As I meet new people there is a transference of information that I would not normally have attained. The atmosphere is great and opportunities are abundant.

Close call while shark diving!

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:09:45 +0000

After a very close call with a huge tiger shark, this diver is very lucky to still have his leg! Although it is still unknown where this video takes place, it is rumored to have taken place at a popular shark diving location in the Bahamas.

Some operators contend that these types of expeditions, though controversial, help dispel perceptions that sharks are savage killers. But critics counter that operators who allow novice divers to swim freely with baited top-level predators are irresponsible.

These Tiger sharks can measure up to 15 feet and weigh almost 1500 pounds. Diving with these sharks unprotected while wearing all black dive gear (Making you look even more like a delicious seal) and shoving a camera with a bright flash in their face is not recommended.

Icy Car Crash Survivor Has Dreams of Becoming a Rescue Diver

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:31:54 +0000

On Valentine’s Day 2009, 7-year-old Tiffany Dombrowski stopped breathing for 30 minutes when the pickup truck she was in fell through a patch of thin ice on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. Also in the car was her friend, 9 year-old Savannah Kleinhans, and Savannah’s father, who was driving the truck. Sadly, Savannah and her father did not survive the crash.

Three years after the tragedy, Tiffany is still recovering from brain injuries she sustained in the accident. As she continues her recovery, she is pursuing her dream of becoming a rescue diver. Her motivation is to one day save someone like her best friend Savannah.

Click here for the full story.